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8th APRIL 1998
Department of Transport Working Group: The Working
Group concluded that a Statutory Body should be formed, which would
take responsibility for the Queen's Pier. It would seek government
funding to restore the Pier at an estimated cost of £2.7 million,
calling in the necessary professional expertise. The recommendation
of the Council of Ministers to members of Tynwald however, was that
the Department of Transport should have further talks with Manx
National Heritage, despite both parties having been fully involved
throughout the Working Group's discussion process. Tynwald duly
accepted this recommendation, although there was considerable
support for the original proposal. We had hoped that the Working
Group's Report would convince Tynwald that the best option was not
to demolish the Pier, at a cost of £1.5 million, but a structured
restoration programme. Early indications would suggest that this aim
may have been successful, with talks between officials of the
Department of Transport and Manx National Heritage due to be held
shortly. "Ownership" of the project is, however, far from
certain.
Annual General Meeting and Subscriptions: This
year's meeting will again be held at St Paul's Church Hall in
Ramsey, and will take place on 27 April commencing at 7.30 pm.
Anyone interested in standing for election should contact the
secretary .
Please note that we are recommending that the
subscription levels remain as last year, that is £2 for adults and
£1 for children.
If you are unable to attend the Annual General
Meeting, will you please assume that the rates will be accepted, and
pass on your subscriptions to the Treasurer.
Pier Day: Our third such event will take place on
the afternoon of Sunday 28 June. There will be charity and retail
stalls, musical entertainment, static displays, refreshments and a
demonstration by the crew of Ramsey Lifeboat.
Our patron, Mr Norman Wisdom, has kindly agreed to
open the event, although we may not have access to the Pier itself.
Flag Day: Once again we propose to have a street
collection in Ramsey, with this to take place on Saturday 11 July.
As you will be aware, this event is one of the main fund raisers
during the year, and it would be very helpful to have as many
collectors as possible, so if you can spare an hour or two, please
contact the secretary. Please don't leave it all with your committee
members!
Models / Prints: The beautiful limited edition
prints of the Queen's Pier, from a watercolour by Michele Tramontana,
can still be purchased at the discounted price of £15. There is
also a small supply of our limited edition model lorries and buses
still available, also at heavily reduced prices.
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